Western Kansas world., 1887-12-10
To the Congress of the United States:

TO the Congress of the United States:
You are confronted at the threshold of
your Jegislatives duties with condition OF
the national fnancesiwhich imparatlvely de-
mands immediate and careful consideration.
The amount of money annually e1acted,
through the operation of present laws, from
the industries and necessities of the people,
largely exceeds the sum necessary to meet
the expenses of the government. When We
consider that the theory of our institutions
guarantees to every citizen the full enjoy
ment of all the fruits of his industry and en-
terprise, with such deduction as may be his
share toward the careful and economical
maintenance of the government which pro-
tects him, it is plain the exaction OF more
than this is indispensable extortlon and q
culpable betrayal of American fairness and
justice. This wrong, inflicted upon those
who bear the burden of national taxation,
like other wrongs multiplies abroad, with
which should only exist as conduit convey
ing the peoples tribute to the legitimate OBJ
iects of expenditure, becomes hording
place for meney needlessly Nithdrawn from
trade and the peoples use, thus Gripping
our national energies, investments in pro-
ductive enterprise, threatening financial dis
turbance, and inviting schemes of public
plunder. This condition of our treasury Is
not altogether new, and it has more than
once of late been submitted to the peoples
representatives in congress, who alone can
apply remedy. And yet the situation still
continues, with aggravated incidents, more
than ever presaging financial convulslon
and widespread disaster.
REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES.
It will not do to neglect this situation be-
cause its dangers are not now now probably
imminent and apparent. They exist none
the less certainly and await the unforeseen
and unexpected occasion, when, suddenly,
they will be percipitated upon us. On the
30th day of June, 1885, the excess of revenue
over public expenditures, after complying
with the annual requirements of the sinking
fund act, was $17, 1853, 1854. During the
year ended June 80, 1886, such excess
amounted to $49, ,4O5, 50520, and during the
year ended June 30, 1887, it reached the sum
of $55, SCI, ,S49.54. The annual contributions
to the sinking fund during the three years
above specified ammounting in the aggre-
gate to $138, ,05S, ,320.94, and deducted from
the surplus as stated were made by calling
In for that purpose outstanding 3 per cent
bonds of the government. During the six
months prior to June 30. 1887, the surplus
revenue had grown SO large by repeated &C
cumulations and it was feared the with
drawal of this great sum of money needed
by the people would so affect the business of
the country that the sum of $79,S64. 100 of
such surplus was applied to the payment of
the principal and interest of the per cent
bonds still outstanding, and which were
then payable at the option of the govern
ment. The precarious condition of financial
affairs among the people still
needing relief, Immediately afte-Sthe 30th
day OF June, 1851, the remainder OF tneo
per cent bonds then outstanding, amount.
ing Win VII A ApT2pclpal ana lnterest 10 tne sum OF
$lo,ooI ,oOV, were caned In ana applied 70 tne
sinking fund contribution for the current
fiscal wear Notwithstanding these OPERA
tlons OF the treasury departments representa-
nons OF olstress In business circles not only
contlnued, out increased, ana aDsOlute per-
lis seemed at nano. IL THESE clrcumstances
the contrlDuuon 70 tne SINKING IunG TOT tne
current nscai year wHs ~ ~ ~ once @ compieSeo Oy
the expenditure OF W ~ szoS.oo ~ t1e PUT
chase Q1 gQEerpmeQf ~ SS ReAre
Il a. j. q H. il
'fs{yl "a. a.. b. IA "a MA =, e, .lsy7,l n IL 8 = ~
49, ~ ~ "a. 49, b. y H.! y!9l!c9 q9zs
a7xn& - - sne out6banolng
Donueu AnueDs9unoss oi une goveinment was
70 some exten. anuclpated ana banks Sc
iecteo as depositor1es OF public money were
RermlMMeG 70 someW1at increase tnelr depos-
its. "nlie tne e1peulenSs tnus employed 10
release 10 the people the money lying idle
IN tne treasury served 10 avert immediate
oanger' Our surplus revenues nave
continued 10 accumulate, the excess
for tne present year amounting on
the Isl DAY OF december TO S55,25o, 1OI. .l9
and estimated to reach the sum of $1l3, OOO,-
ooo on tne ootn OF June next, at which date
1t is expected this sum, added to prior accu-
uiatlons, VIII swell M the e. surplus IN the treas
ury 70 Sl40,oOO,oo0. There seems to be no
assurance that with such withdrawal from
use OF the people circulating medium, our
business community may not IN the.near
future De suplecteo 10 the same distress which
was quite lately produced from the same
cause ano, whlle me 1unctlons or our nation;
al treasury should be few and SIMPLE, and
while It's best condltloE would be reached,
believe, ny It's enure dlsconnectlon with prl-
vate business interests, yet when by per-
version OF its purposes II ldiy hoids money
uselessly subtracted from the channels of
trade, there seems TO be reason for the
claim that some legitimate means be de-
vlsed by the government to restore, In an
emergency, without waste or extravaganza,
such money 10 It's place among the people.
NO EXECUTIVE POWER OF RELIEF.
II such an emergency arises there now ex-
lists no clear and undoubted executive power